Reciprocating pump



J. R. LOWRY RECIPROCATING PUMP Ap-ril s, 1952 5 Sheets-Sheet. l

Filed Jan. 1l, 1946 .E'l/ll////////////////////A Jas R. Zo

April 8, 1952 J. R. LowRY 2,591,951

RECIPROCATING PUMP Filed Jan. 11, 194e s sheets-sheet 2 Jaz/m for April 8, 1952 JgR. LOWRY 2,591,951

RECIPROCATING PUMP Filed Jan. 1l. 1946 l 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Apr. 8, 1952 U N I T ED STAT ES PAT E NT OFF I CE assegn- Jesse R.' Lowry, Des Moines, Iowa, as signorf to Ideal Manufacturing Company, Oskaloosa,

Iowa, a corporation of Plwa Application Januaryll, 1946,-Seria1-,No. 640.5562r 3 Claims. (Cl. 10g-229)' This invention relates. generallyy to reciprocating pumps and inparticular to a. multiple-'cylinder pump of double actingtype..

An objectof thisinvention is toprovideY an improved multipleA cylinder pump of reciprocating type.

A further object of.- this invention is to provide a multiple cylinder reciprocating pump in which valve means, permanently-assembled adjacent the` tothe cylinders, and held in assembly vposition by adjustable means operable from the outside: of' the chamber.

Yet another objectof this invention is to provide a multiple cylinder pump which is of asimple` and rugged construction, eiicient in operation to supply a continuous flow of fluid againstV relatively large pressure heads, and having the" valve members therein readily accessibleforreplacement and servicing-purposes;

A feature of this invention is found 'in the provision of a pump apparatus for a well havingA a pump unit located' in a Well, driving means therefor at the top of the well, and a reciprocating rod connecting a Working piston in the pump unit-With a rctatablecrank'on the driving means, in1which an opening inf a cover means forthe-well adapted to` receive: the connecting: rod is maintained closed for all moved positionsl of the'rod.

Another feature of' this inventionis found in the provision ofthe multiple cylinder'pump vincluding a chamber common to all of the cylinders and having an outlet connectible with a' Well' pump, in which valvesfor controlling-theflow of uid from the cylinders to the chamber' include valveseats permanently assembled Withinv the cylinders. Valve'members for the seatsxare assembled therewith. through the chamberv outlet and movably maintained within upright lguides on the valve seats by means adjustablysupported in the wall ofthe chamber, andl adjustable from the outside of the chamber. Onlremovalioi the valve members, the valve seats are accessible for resurfacing purposes through the chamber outlet.

Further objects,v features and advantages ofV this invention-will become apparent from the fol- 2. lowing description when taken 'in connection with' the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig'. lis a foreshortenedv elevationaljview shovv'f ing' the pump of this invention arranged Within' a well hole; d Fig. 2 is a foreshortene'd'elevational'view, with c-ertain'partsA shown in' section, showing the 'upper' portion' of f the pump and its relativer assembly With drivingfme'a'ns therefor;

Fig. 3 is a side elevational view of. the pump driving. means, withparts thereof" shown'A in section to more clearly'illustrate its construction Fig. 4'is an enlarged longitudinal sectional View ofthe pumpshowing' the relative assembly' and construction of the pump cylinders, pistons-and valves for controllingy the iiovvy of ud through thev pump; v i

Fig..5 is a perspective'detail vie'wl offa' valve seat forming 4part of the-valve unit for controlling.'

the iioW of 'fluiddrom a cylinder;

Fig. 6 is a perspectivendetail view of vac'age' memberfor-ming. part of the valve -un'it'for'c'ontrollingy theow of uidthroughfa. piston;

Fig. '7 isa vperspective detail view ofa-sup'po'rtingmember` for-thepacking of a` piston;

Figff isa fragmentary sectional vievv,.. illustratedl similarlyv to- Fig. 4, showing a modified' form of valve-structure fora cylinder;

Fig; 9 is a-perspectivedetail view of a cage mem-ber forming partv of the valve structure shown in Fig. 8;

Fig-i 10'is an explodedperspectiveviewfof a plate assembly constituting partoff the coverl means at-the topbf'the wellforfsupportinglthe pump driving.l meansgf Fig.' l2-is illustrated'similarly to Fig. 11 and i shovvs'th'eK plate assembly in-a second` moved po'- sition.

Withre'fere'n'ce to theY drawings" the puinpfof this' invention;- indica'ted generally 'as' l5',l isfill'u'strated' in' Fig; 1`inf a'nl' installed `position' adjacent to the bottom of a' well holell Wate/'r'i'sl'disL charged by the pump through an uprightwell pipe'l 1, a' T-joint I8, al transverse pipe*V I9 and then through an upright 'pipe'2l for delivery 'to' a desired destination. That portion 225 ofthe pipe I1 above the T-joint I8"constitutesra stanfd pipe as will appear later. A driving unit 1,3 for the pump l5V is carried'on, a cover 24, for thetop' of the well I6," and' includes' a'pair'of rotatable cranks 26 connected in a"driving'relation1with the pump pistons 21 through pitman rods 28 and connecting rods 29.

The pump I5 (Fig. 4) comprises a unitary cylinder block, indicated generally as 3|, which is formed with a pair of parallel cylinders 32, open at their lower ends, and having their upper ends in iluid communication with a common discharge header or chamber 33 formed at the top of the cylinder block 3|. An outlet 34, for the chamber 33, is adapted for threaded connection with the lower end of the well pipe |1. The flow of iluid through the pump is controlled by valve units 36 for the cylinders 32, and valve units 31 for the pistons 21 which are operatively associated with the cylinders 32. Since the assembly of the valve units 36 and 31 with a corresponding cylinder 32 and piston 21, respectively, is the same for each cylinder, only one of such assemblies will be referred to in detail in the following description.

As best appears in Fig. 4 a cylinder 32 is formed at its upper end with an inwardly extended annular shoulder 38. A valve unit 36 includes a valve seat member 39 (Fig. 5) having a flat annular ring 4| formed with a valve opening 48, and angularly spaced upright guides 42 defining a circle concentric with the opening 49. That section 43 of the ring portion 4| between the guides 42 and the periphery of the ring portion constitutes a shoulder adapted for abutting engagement with the underside of the cylinder shoulder 38. At this engaged position the guides 42 extend upwardly through the opening defined by the cylinder shoulder 38, and into the chamber 33.

' The valve seat 39 is positively held in abutting engagement against the shoulder 38 by a cylinder liner 44, the upper end of which is tapered inwardly and downwardly as indicated at 46 in Fig. 4. The outer periphery of the ring member 4| of the valve seat (Figs. 4 and 5) is formed adjacent its top edge with a shoulder 41 which has an outer diameter substantially equal to the bore of the cylinder 32. 'I'he peripheral surface of the ring below the shoulder 41 is tapered downwardly and inwardly. This relative construction of the peripheral surface of the ring member 4| and the upper edge 46 of the liner 44 provides for the edge 46 being inserted between the inner peripheral surface of the cylinder 32 and the ring member 4| to act as a wedge for positively holding the valve seat 39 in its assembly position against the cylinder shoulder 38.

Located within the upright guides 42 and adapted for movement relative to the valve opening 48 is a ball valve member 49. The movement of the ball 49 away from a seated position is limited by its engagement with the lower end of an adjustable screw 5|, threadably supported in the outlet 34 at a position in coaxial alignment with the cylinder 32, and having its lower end extended within the chamber 33 to a position within the upright guides 42. The lower end of the adjustable screw 5I thus functions as a stop to always maintain the ball within the uprlghts 42.

In practice it was found that the direct engagement of the ball 49 with the lower end of the screw 5|, on each opening of the valve unit 36, resulted in an undesirable clicking noise. To reduce this noise to a minimum a rubber stop 52 is secured to the lower end of the screw 5| for contact engagement with the ball 49.

In the assembly of the valve unit 36 the valve seat 39 is inserted through the lower end of a is adjusted for contact engagement with the ball.

1liA through the outlet 34.

Should the valve seat require grinding the ball valve 49 is removed by rst retracting the screw 5|, and then inverting the cylinder block 3| whereby the ball valve 49 drops outwardly Grinding of the valve seat then takes place by the insertion of the grinding tool through the outlet 34.

A piston 21 (Fig. 4) comprises an elongated tube formed with perforations 53 for admitting fluid within the piston from the well, with the flow of -the fluid through the piston and into a cylinder 32 being controlled by a valve unit 31. A valve unit 31 includes a seat member 54 which is press fitted within the inner end of the piston 21. A ball valve 56 for the valve seat 54 is maintained in assembly position by a cage member 51 (Figs. 4 and 6) having its upper end of an open dome construction, and its lower end 58 of a tubular construction adapted for threadable connection about the upper end of the piston 21. The threadable connection of the cage member 51 with the piston 21 is facilitated by the provision of a nut portion 59 which defines the junction between the dome and tubular portions of the cage member 51.

Spaced from the inner end of the piston 21 is an annular external shoulder 6|, which cooperates with the lower edge 62 of the cage member 51 as a clamp for the piston packing comprised -of two members 63 having adjacent portions 64 located between the shoulder 6| and the cage member 51. Located between the packings 63 and. positioned about the piston 21 are a pair of packing supporting collars 66 (Figs. 4 and 7). The collars 66 provide a bearing support for the packing portions 64 so that on threadable movement of the cage member 51 towards the shoulder 6| the portions 64 are retained against spreading movement radially of the cylinder 32. A more positive clamping and holding action on the portions 64 is thus accomplished.

The outer or lower end of a piston 21 is formed with a pair of oppositely arranged recesses 61. A connecting rod 29, has its lower end of a loop shape, as best appears in Fig. l. The sides of the loop are arranged at opposite sides of the cylinder block 3|, and the lower end of the loop is received within the recesses 61 so as to extend across the lower end of the piston 21. The loop is rigidly secured to the piston 21 by welding at the recesses 61 as indicated at 68. The connecting rod 29 is guidably supported in its reciprocating movement at the T-joint I8 (Figs. 1 and 2) and its upper end is pivotally connected with the lower end of a pitman rod 28 through a clamp member 69.

The cranks 26 for the pitman rods 28 are mounted at the opposite ends of a common shaft 10 which is rotatably supported in a housing member 1| (Figs. 2 and 3). The housing 1| is mounted on a channel member 12 which is secured, as by welding, to a base member 13. The base 13 in turn is secured to the well cover 24 by bolts 15. Also mounted on the shaft. 16, interananas-r mediatesthecranks` 26, is.ik a gear: T4 which; is `in meshing engagement-with a, pinion T6 carriedon ashaft' V rotatably supported in theA housing. TI irr-a` parallel relation withVthe-shaft 10'. A pulley 13 carried on the shaft T1, is connected withan electric motor 'I9 through a belt 8|. The motor T9' is mounted'V on a base member 82' which is pivotedon the channel member l2; at 93, for'up and" down pivotalmovement. The downward pivotal movement of the motor 19 is limited by tlie-lengthofv the belt 8|, sothat'the weight of the -motor-19 automatically retains a proper tension inthe belt 8| for driving the pulley 78.

Intheoperation of the pump rotation of the crankv members 26 reciprocates the connecting rods 28 and 29 and in turn the pistons 2l. The crank-'membersare set l89^aparton the-shaft 'm so that theA pistons 2l movev in opposite directions'. Control of the fluid flow through the pump is accomplished by the valve units and 37.Y which are operated in response to the fluid pressures in the cylinders 32 and in the chamber 33;

In` Figs. 8 and 9 there is shown a modified form of'valve unit for the cylinders 32. The unit 36" iswsubsta-ntially similar to the valve unit 36 illustrated in Fig. 4 except for the substitution of a cage member 82 for the upright guides 42.

A. valveV unit 36 includes a valve seatmember 3.9"v1hich is assembled withthe cylinder shoulder 38 and'with the cylinder liner dll in all respects similar to the valve seat member 39. The top surface' of the member 39 has an upright annular rim 85' receivable within the opening dened by the cylinder shoulder 38. The cage member 82 (Fig. 9) is formed with a top body portion 84 having angularly spaced downwardly extended legs or guides 86 adapted to fit within the rim 65 with their lower endssupported on the top face of the valve seat member 39'. With the ball valve 49, located within the cage member 8f. its movement away from a seated positionwith the seat member 397 is .limited by the cage top portion 84, and lsuch movement is guided by the legs 99. The cage member 82' is clamped'against the valve seat member 39 by the screw 5| tlireadable within the chamber outlet 34 and accessible from the outside Aof the pump casing 3|.

In the assembly of the vave unit 3S the member 39' is assembled with the cylinder shoulder 38 and the liner All in all respects similarto the seat member 39 in Fig. 5. The. ball member A9 isthen dropped through the outlet 34 to its position on the seat member 39' after which the cage member 82A is inserted throughthe outlet 34 to iv its position about the ball 69 and with theguides 36 thereof within the annular upright rim 85. The screw 5| is then adjusted to clamp the cage member 82 against the seat member 39'.

By virtue of Ythe. driven connection of thel pitman rod 2S with the crankf it is apparent that the rods are moved laterally concurrently with their up and down reciprocal movement. To accommodate this lateral movement of the rods 23 the cover 2li and the base 'i3 for the pump driving means 23 are provided with openings 9U and 9|, respectively (Figs. l, 2 and 10). As a result the elongated opening 9| in the base 'i3 is of an appreciable size so that dirt and the like can readily fall into the well. In order to eliminate this condition plate assemblies are provided for maintaining the openings 9| closed at all moved positions of the rods 28. Since duplicate plate assemblies are used for closing the openiii) ings 9|. only' one` thereof-will; be; describedrr slidably receive the pitman rod 28. Thelupper plate 99 thus completely covers the elongated opening 9d in the lower plate 93, while the circular opening Slain the upper plate is closed by' the extension therethrough of the pitmanrod'28.

It'isseen, therefore, that the plates 93 and195" are superposed upon the base 13 for relative slid'- able movement' longitudinally: of the elongated opening 9| in the base, withA this llongitudinal movement taking place in responserto therlateral movement of theA pit-man rod 28; The' slidable f movement of the plates 93 and 96 longitudinally of each other isguidedvby a guiding member integrally formed with a substantially inverted U portion 99 and a flat portion 99 extended laterally from the free edge of one of the legs ofthe U portion 98. The base or upper side of the portion 98 is formed with an elongated opening of a size substantially equal to the-opening 9| in the base member 73. The U portion 98 is adapted to fit over the superposed plates 93 and 93 so that its legs are in contact engagement with the sides of the plates 93 and 99. The guide member is secured against the base 13- bythe bolts 15 which are extended through openings |92 and |93 in the'base 13 and guide member, respectively, for attachmentwithrthe-well cover 24.

In th'eoperation o1"y the pump assume a pitman rod 28 to be at one'limit of itslateral movement as illustrated in Fig. 1'1. At thisV moved position the opening-9| in the base13is closed'in part by the plate 93, while the opening 94 in the plate 93 is completely covered by the*V plate 96; On lateral movement of the pitman rod28 to its extreme position in opposite direction, as illustrated in Fig. 12v, the plate 96 is initially moved toward the right, as viewed in Fig. l1', in response to the movement of the pitman rodv 23, while'the plate e3 remains stationary until thepitman rod engages the end itill of the opening. Prior tol this engagement: it is seen that'the plate 93 is moved into a covering positionA relative to the opening 94, and that the plates-93and` 96, after engagementof thel rod with the slot end |04, are moved to the right together until the pitman rodreachesfitsY position illustrated in Fig. 12;

1t is apparent, of course, that on` movement oi the pitman rod 28 from its position shown in Fig. 12 to its position shown in Fig. l1 the plate 93 will remain stationary until the pitman rod engages the end |96 Vof the opening 99 and after the opening 94 has been closed by the initial movement of the plate 96 relative to the plate 93. The plates 93 and 95 are thus relatively moved in response to the lateral movement of the pitman rod 28 so as to completely close the opening 9| in the base I3 for all moved positions of the pitman rod.

As previously mentioned the upper portion 22 of the upright pipe constitutes a standpipe for the pump. In order to brace the well pipe I1 the upper end of the pipe 22 is welded to the under side of the base member 13. The base 13, the channel member 12, and the upper portion 22 of the pipe I1 are thus an integral preassembled unit.

From. the above description it is seen that the invention provides a double acting pump of reciprocating type which is efficient in operation to maintain a substantially continuous flow of water through the upright lpipe I1, and with such iiow being capable of taking place against relatively large pressure heads. In one embodiment of the pump satisfactory results were obtained when the pump was operating against a pressure head of 250 feet, and in lieu of this pressure head operated to satisfactorily distribute water a-t ground level to a destination ,located substantially 1500 feet from the well. Further the valve structures 35 and 31 for controlling the flow of water from the cylinders 32, and through the piston 21, respectively, are of a simple construction and adapted to be readily assembled into the pump and accessible for servicing and maintenance purposes. Also the assembly of the sliding plates 93 and 96 with the pitman rods 28 provides for the top of the well being completely covered at all times so as to eliminate the possibility of the well becoming contaminated from dirt and the like falling therein.

Although the invention has been specifically described and illustrated with respect to a preferred embodiment thereof it is to be understood that it is not to be so limited since changes and modifications can be made therein which are within the full intended scope of this invention as defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a pump having a casing with an upright cylinder therein provided with an open lower end and an outlet portion at its upper end, a valve unit for controlling the flow of uid through said outlet portion including a valve seat within said cylinder positioned inwardly of and against said outlet portion, a ball valve for said seat located in said outlet portion, an upright annular projection on said seat in a concentrically spaced relation with the iiuid opening in said seat, a cage member for said ball valve projected upwardly through said outlet portion and having its lower end positioned within the confines of said annular projection, and means adjustably supported in a side wall of said casing and engageable with said cage member to hold the cage member against said valve seat.

2. In a pump having an upright cylinder therein with an inlet end and an outlet end, a valve unit for controlling the iiow of iiuid through said outlet end of the cylinder comprising an annular inwardly extended shoulder at said outlet end, a valve seat Within said cylinder having an annular fia-nge in abutting engagement with the underside of said shoulder, a guide means on said valve through the inlet end of the cylinder to a positionA in engagement with said valve seat, a ball valve for said valve seat located within said guide means, and means for limiting -the movement of A said ball valve within said guide means, with said valve seat, guide means and ball valve all being removable through the inlet end of said cylinder.

3. A pump comprising a cylinder block having an upright cylinder and a chamber formed therein, with said cylinder being open at one end to said chamber, an outlet for said chamber, an annular inwardly extended shoulder on said cylinder adjacent the upper end thereof, a valve unit including a valve sea-t with a shoulder portion adapted for abutting engagement with the under side of said cylinder shoulder, and guide means projected upwardly through the opening defined by said cylinder shoulder and into said chamber, a liner for said cylinder having its inner end wedged between the outer periphery of said valve seat and the inner periphery of said cylinder to hold Ithe valve seat in a fixed position against said cylinder shoulder, a valve member for said valve seat movable into and out of a seated position within said guide means, a screw threadably supported in a wall of said chamber and having the inner end thereof extended into said chamber, a resilient stop member on said inner end for contacting said valve member to limit the movement of the valve member away from a seated position, and a valved piston for said cylinder.

JESSE R. LOW'RY` REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

' UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 93,810 Crouse Aug. 17, 1869 135,905 Gill Feb. 18, 1873 195,375 Judkins Sept. 18, 1877 226,019 Beebe et al Mar. 30, 1880 780,993 Hall Jan. 31, 1905 800,399 Richards Sept. 26, 1905 940,347 McCarthy et al. Nov. 16, 1909 1,025,977 Henderson May 14, 1912 1,044,623 Bailey Nov. 19, 1912 1,212,294 Walker Jan. 16, 1917 1,265,313 Ewing May 7, 1918 1,489,779 Mohr Apr. 8, 1924 1,613,559 Caps Jan. 4, 1927 1,896,237 Huff Feb. 7, 1933 1,908,440 Milton May 9, 1933 2,005,299 Penrod June 18, 1935 2,074,787 Herbst Mar. 23, 1937 2,240,780 Hunter May 6, 1941 2,332,080 Lowry Aug. 14, 1945 

